Marija Mandic might not consider herself a 'photographer' per se, but her sweet and sunny snaps certainly suggest otherwise. Toting her camera around town to capture real-life goings-on in her new home of Prague, she's developed quite the knack for catching scenes that are easy on the eye. She's also rather lovely, and answered a few questions we sent her way.



What is your name and how old are you? My name is Marija Mandic, and I'll be 25 this summer.

Where were you born and where do you live now? I was born in beautiful Novi Sad in Serbia, and I am currently based in Prague, Czech Republic.

When did you first know you wanted to be a photographer? I never actually wanted to become a photographer, even now I can't declare myself as a photographer. It is just something that I really love to do.



What areas, things or people in your neighbourhood do you most like to photograph? Well, it all depends. I love to shoot people I know, but also I love to be surprised by "weird" situations on the street.

Is there a certain camera or type of film that you wish you could own? Actually no, there is not. Almost all cameras I have were gifts from people, I never really wanted to have some specific kind of camera.

Is there a running theme to the work you create, or do you just make whatever comes to mind? Almost all of my works are about public and private spheres.



What kinds of ideas are you working on at the moment? Well, I am currently finishing my masters studies, and preparing for the entrance exam for my PhD, so I am more in my geek edition right now. But besides that I am working on a great project with my friends from Serbia. The project title is 'CURE + MOMCI (GIRLS + BOYS)' and we hope that we are going to finish it by the middle of the year.

If you were to teach a photography appreciation class, what kind of lessons would you try to teach your students? I would tell them to keep their eyes wide open all the time. The world is full of interesting moments.

What advice can you offer on finding your personal style or aesthetic? In my opinion you can't force a style; sooner or later your interests will become more precise, and then your style will find its place.

What are the hallmarks of a great photographer? Seeing things in a unique way.



What is the strangest thing or thought that has inspired a photo? People ☺

What do you enjoy doing when not taking photos? A few months ago I made two rugs, and I really liked doing that, so I hope that I will find some free time in the near future to continue that. Otherwise, my greatest love is movies, so I enjoy watching them as much as I can.

Where can we see more of your work? You can see some of my works on marijamandic.rs